Russian Cornish Hens Recipes

CORNISH HENS THE EASY WAY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Rub each hen with a lime half. Drizzle the hens with olive oil, and season with chili powder, cumin, kosher salt, and pepper. Place hens on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
• Roast hens 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue roasting 30 minutes, or to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).

CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Place hens on a rack in a shallow baking pan. Combine the apple juice, soy sauce and browning sauce if desired; pour over hens. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until a thermometer reads 180°, basting occasionally with pan juices.

RUSSIAN CORNISH HENS

Steps:

• Cut the hens lengthwise alongside the backbone, and open them up. Place them cut side down on a flat surface covered with plastic wrap, and arrange additional plastic wrap over the birds to cover them.
• Using a heavy flat-bottomed pan or a meat pounder, pound the birds until they are flattened to about equal thickness throughout. Sprinkle the skin side of the hens with salt, pepper and savory.
• Heat two nonstick skillets, one large enough (about 12 inches) to accommodate two hens without overlap, and a second skillet (8 to 9 inches) to accommodate the third hen. Place the hens, skin side down, in the hot skillets. Cover and cook for 3 minutes over medium to high heat, turn the birds over, and cover and cook for 10 more minutes. Meanwhile, wrap three bricks (each about 4 pounds) with aluminum foil.
• Turn the birds over again in the skillet so they are skin side down, and place a brick on each bird. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 20 minutes. (The skin of the birds should be well browned and crisp.)
• Remove the birds from the skillets, cut them in half, and arrange the six halves on a platter. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat from each skillet, and stir half the water ( 1/4 cup) into each. Bring to a boil for 1 minute, and pour over the hen pieces. Sprinkle on the lemon juice. and serve immediately with the salad.

CRISPY FRIED CORNISH GAME HENS (TAPAKA)

Steps:

• With a meat cleaver, poultry shears, or a VERY sharp knife, split open the breast of the Cornish Hen. Carefully remove the breastbone. Cover the hen with waxed paper and pound the flat side of the cleaver or a meat tenderizer to flatten.
• Combine the garlic, lemon juice, paprika, and about 1/4 teaspoon salt. Rub over the hen and refrigerate, covered for at least two hours or as long as overnight.
• Heat the clarified butter in a heavy cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
• Brush the garlic off the hen, then place the hen in the skillet, skin side down. Cover the hen directly with something flat (such as an ovenproof plate) and place a heavy object (such as a brick, a smaller iron skillet, or a pan filled with water) on top so the hen is firmly pressed down.
• Cook until the skin is deep golden brown and crispy, about 20 minutes. Turn the bird, re-weight, and cook on the other side for about 15 minutes. Pierce a thigh with a skewer. the hen is ready when the juices run clear.
• Serve on a bed of lettuce, garnished with the fresh vegetables, and accompanied with the Sour Plum Sauce on the side.
• For the Sour Plum Sauce:.
• In a large nonreactive saucepan, combine the prunes and enough cold water to barely cover. bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the prunes are soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Drain the prunes, then pit and put them through a food mill. Return the prunes to the saucepan. Add the cilantro, garlic, coriander seeds, fenugreek, red pepper flakes to taste, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and salt. bring to a boil and heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Yaste and add more lemon juice, if desired.
• Cool the sauce to room temperature and transfer to a sterilized 1 quart jar. Top with the oil. seal. and refrigerate. The sauce should stand for at least 4 to 6 hours before serving. The sauce will keep for up to two months in the refrigerator. This makes about 3 cups.